Directive electromagnetic radiator



A 8, 1947- r w. BARROW :rm. 2,415,801

DIRECTIVE ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATOR Filed Jan. 29, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 18, 1947. w. 1.. IARROW EI'AL 2, 15,8

nmnc'rxvs nucflonaumfic mun/non I Filod Jan. 29, 1942 4 Shuts-Sheet 2 T0 RECEIVER OR TRANSMITTER ATTORNEY Feb. 18, 1947.

W. L. BARROW ETAL DIRECTIVE ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATOR Filed Jun. 29, 1942 1'0 U-ME APPARATU'.

4 Shasta-Shoot 3 WILLIAM M. H LL ATTORNEY Feb. 18', 1947. w. L. BARROW ETAL 15,8 7

DIRECTIVE ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATOR Filed Jan. 29, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGJM IOI POII-I UPPLY Patented Feb. 18, 1947 um'rso STATES PATENr oFFicE I Wilmer L. Barrow,

Lexington, Mass., scope Company,

' poration of New York Application January 29, 1942, Serial No.

I 6 Claims. (01. zso -u) i v l Thisinvention rela generally, to electromagnetic radiators, and more particularly, to means and methods for improving the directivity and for substantially eliminating the secondary lobes irom the radiation patterns of sectoral or pyramidal horns such as those disclosed. in a patent to W. L. Barrow, one oi! the present inventors, No. 2,255,042, issued September 9, 1941. An object of the present invention is to pro- .vide apyramidal electromagnetic horn having improved directivity through the use of energy partitioning means in'said horn.

Q Another object of the invention is to provide an improved electromagnetic horn whose radiation pattern hasa smooth contour, secondary lobes being removed or greatly reduced.

. Arurther object is to provide a horn of the .above character having external means (or the removal of any remaining secondary lobes in the radiation pattern.

, Yet another object is to provide a plurality of horns of .the, above character so arranged as to improve the radiation pattern over that of a single horn.

. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of horns of the above character having external means to absorb the secondary lobes of the radiation pattern of such plurality of horns.

Another object o! the invention is to provide a partitioned electromagnetic horn having an electric ileld intensity at the mouth of said horn that is substantially a half sinusoid, being a maximum on the axis of said hem and zero at its tapered sides.

Still another object is to provide a horn with partitionsand sides, pivoted at their inner ends, which may be moved or oscillated by mechanical means at themouth ends of said partitions and sides in such a manner that the radiation pat tern may be directed at or swept over a predetermined angle, meanwhile remaining sharply tliiwive and substantially free from secondary Also another object is to provide electronic or mechanical means for varying the energy distribution at the mouth of an electromagnetic partitioned horn bypredet'erminable amounts from the half sinusoidal distribution characteristic.

A, still further object o! the invention is to employ the means and methods provided for in the precedingobiects interchangeably for radiation or reception purposes as enunciated by the reciprocity theorem.

Other objects and advantages will become apso plotted as a function of the angle from the horn Concord, and William M. Hall,

asslgnors to Sperry Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a cor- Gyroparent from the specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the invention is embodied in concrete form.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective schematic representation of a conventional pyramidal electromagnetic horn.

Fig. 2 is a polar graph of a possible radiation or receiver gain pattern of the horn of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section plan viewot an electromagnetic horn having energy partitioning means.

Fig. 4 is a graph oi the electric field intensity at the mouth of a horn such as that of Fig. 1 shown as a function distance across the horn mouth in the z direction.

Fig. 5 is a graph of the measured radiation pattern inthe plane containing the antenna and parallel to the longitudinal axis of such a horn as that of Fig. 3. Relative field intensity is axis for different numbers of horn partitions.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a partitioned horn.

Fig. '1 is an elevation cross-section view of a 25 detail of Fig. 6-.

Fig. 8 is an elevation view 0! the front of a horn having moveable partitions. I

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. 8 in partial section taken along the cutting-plane 80 line 8-9 of the latter figure.

Fig. 10 is an explanatory graph. Fig. 11- isa plan view 1 an electromagnetic horn using external secondary lobe suppressing means.

Fig. '12 is similar to Fig. 11 using a oi horns in an array.

Fig. 13 is an alternate of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is another variation oi Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is still another variation of Fig. 12

plurality so using suppressing means for both the vertical 4 alternate form of Fig.

parts.

and horizontal planes.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary plan cross-section view oi a modified partitioned horn.

Fig. 1'! is a cross-section elevation view of an 18 taken along the cuttingplane line H, iB-i'l, ll of the latter figure.

' Fig. 18 is an alternate form of Fig. 17.

Similar characters oi reference are used in all of the above figures to indicate corresponding Referring now to Fig. 1, there is represented a conventional pyramidal electromagnetic horn whose theory and operation are disclosed in an article by W. Li Barrow and L. J. Chu, entitled heory 0! the electromagnetic horn, and in a companion paper by W. L. Barrow and F. D. ator consisting of a wave guide portion I', an an- Lewis, entitled The sectoral electromagnetic tenna means 2' and a concentric line 8' for inhorn," Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Entroduction of the energy to be radiated, and a gineers, vol. 27, No. 1, January, 1939. The horn ho n port on 8 consist n of flared sides 4'. I. l. radiator consists of a rectangular wave guide porand 1. Arranged inside of the horn I are shown tion I, into the side of which projects an antenna f ur partition l 7. and I 8. Inner ends- 2 terminating a coaxial line 3. Device 2 acts as I9, 20, 2|, and '22 of said partitions are spaced an energy translation means for electromagnetic relative to walls 4', and 5' so that energy entering waves of the order of a meter or less in length, cothe channels defined by said walls is of an amount acting with a receiver or transmitter, not shown, suitable to cause a half sinusoidal distribution of at the other end of the line 3. The wave guide field intensity across the mouth of the horn as portion I is closed at the end 9 and connected to the energy leaves these channels. Ends 21 and the throat of a horn 8 at the-opposite end. The 23. 23 and 24, 25 and 28, 26 and 28 are spaced a horn 8 is formed by having sides 4 and i disposed distance (a) apart, while ends 24 and 2B are at an angle spaced a distance (2a) apart. The spacing of the 00 mouth ends of the partitions is not critical, as long as the rule is followed that inner ends ll. 2', 2 I, and 22 of the partitions are so placed that the with respect to the wave guide axis and sides 6 energy directed toward the mouth of the horn reand 1 g t at a angle suits in a half sinusoidal distribution of held in- 4,0 tensity across the mouth. The beneficial results of this partitioning are illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 shows measured radiation patterns in the with respect to the same axis. The horn I is f rm f aphs of the radiation field intensity as thus pyramidal in appearance having a flare a function of the angle fromthe axis of symmetry angle 4m in the :r, z plane and a flare angle 00 in of the radiat r f r a pyram dal ho n with n parthe :v, 1.! plane. As normally excited with a, vertitlons (graph 29), a horn with two Pa ns tical antenna 2, the lines oi electric intensity are raph n a h rn with f r P r itions vertical: that is, parallel to the y axis throughout (graph 3|), the partition in e h 8 hlv hl the interior oi the horn. The wave guide portion so n p a d a rd n to the aforementioned rule. I may vary greatly in length and cross-section It is seen that the field pattern for no'partitions shape, but from the standpoint of radiating a aph 9) ha Considerable n y n w wave of strictly linear polarization, horns and lobes. the patt f o Partitions ap 0) wave guides of rectangular cross-section are prefis improved. and t e Pa e foul Partitions erable. By the suitable choice of the flare angle raph 3 is r ly improved. so, the radiation pattern in the :c, .2 plane, per- It seems evident to one skilled in the art that pendicular to the antenna 2, may be made sharply the directivity of such an electromagnetic pydirective with a narrow principal lobe and ramidal horn may be improved by increasing the negligible secondary lobes. The selection of the number of partitions, always choosing a configuoptimum flare angle 00 produces a reasonably 40 ration of partitions which gives the intensity dissharp radiation pattern in the :r, 1/ plane, parallel tribution at the mouth of the horn as nearly a to the antenna 2, but is accompanied by apprecihalf sinusoidal character as possible, so that the able secondary lobes, as shown in Fig. 2. present invention is not limited to the use of four Fig. 2 illustrates a typical radiation pattern in partitions. It also appears obvious that such th x, 1/ plane, parallel to the antenna 2, plotted partition devices may be applied by one skilled in in polar coordinates. The pattern consists of a the art to forms of horns other than that shown principal directed lobe III, and secondary lobes in Figs. 1 and3, such as those appearing in the of much less intensit such as lobes II, II', I2, aforementioned Patent No. 2,255,042, or other I2, I3, l3, and I4. Means and methods for the similar devices such as radiating pipes. Also, it removal of such secondary lobes are the chief seems obvious that, although the present'invenfeatures of the present invention. tion has been described only in connection with The electric fleld intensity across the mouth of transmission of energy, it is equally useable as an the horn radiator of Fig. 1 is found to vary half energy receiving means, the graphs of Fig. 5 then sinusoidally in the z direction, perpendicular to representing gain characteristics as functions of the plane of the antenna 2, to produce radiation the same parameters, instead of radiated field patterns in the :r, 2 plane having a single prinintensity.

cipal lobe and secondary lobes of insignificant The radiat r. fixed in th Po ition shown in amplitudes. Curve I20 of Fig. 4 shows this elec- Fig. 6, may be used to supply one of the two overtric field intensity as a function of the z dislapping beams of a runway localizer in an airtance across the horn mouth, being zero at the craft instrument landing system. The fleld patedges and maximum at the center. The fleld' tern of a radiator to be employed in a localizer strength across the mouth of the horn radiator system should be sharp in both the horizontal of Fig. 1 is substantially uniform in the y direcand vertical planes. A beam that is narrow in tion, parallel to the plane of the antenna 2. Since the vertical plane is desirable to prevent radiaan undistorted half sinusoidal distribution at the tion from striking the ground, thus minimizing mouth of the horn in the z direction produces a the eflects of the ground on the radiation patsharp, clean-cut beam in the :c, z plane without tern. Sharpness in the horizontal plane is necesappreciable side lobes, it is a logical hypothesis sary to provide maximum-sensitivity to a change that a similar fleld distribution across the mouth in horizontal angle of an aircraft approaching of the horn in the y direction should yield a simialong the equi-signal course defined by the overlar satisfactory radiation pattern in the :c, y lapping beams. At the same time high direcplane. Fig. 3 illustrates a means for obtaining tivity in the horizontal plane reduces the possithis distribution. bility of harmful reflections from neighboring Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 6, there obstructions such as hangars or hills. Sharpis shown a pyramidal electromagnetic hq h 1 41- 7 ness in both planes increases the signal in the f as.

T In no.1 the ways 8| 'relative'tothe throat the 'wave guide i'v by means of looting outwardly attach to highffrequency 'ing or receiving means direction- The pattern must be free from in!!! which. might give rise to spurious lldrisodtaily polarised radiation is desired it reduces the eileet of variation in sartbconductivity. The partitioned horn shown in 8 successfully fulfills the above require- -menta'but ,itrnay equally well be employed for t-to-point communication or for other applications where a beam of this character is required. rurtber details or this partitioned horn are revealed in I'll. 1.

hornis shown as a rectangular conductinl pipmcloscd at one end by a wall 32. The elective length of the wave guide portion i is made variable by means of a. rod ll extending through a bushing ll in the wall I2, said rod adiusting the position of a conducting plunger end 81 o! the wave guide t by means of a knob 8|. Projecting through the wave guide, at right angles to the plane of the partitions of the radiator, is an antenna rod 88, that extends through opposite slots ll and 48 in the guide. Flanges 48 and 44, which close the slots H and 8!, and are fixed to the sides of screws ll, 88, said screws being also set-inslots parallel to the slots ll, 48, support outerconductlng tubes 88 and 18 concentric to the inner conductor II and profrom opposing sides of the wave guide i'. Thus the antenna. wire 88 may be moved in the plane of the drawing by loosenin scre'w's ll, Q8, thereby adjusting the position of antenna relative to the throat end 81. Conmay be extended to transmitter or receiver msana. The line ss; I8 is impedance matched to the wave guide I .by means of an adjustable plunger 41, slideable over the inner conductor 38 and within the outer conductor 89. Such excitmay be preferably used in place of the antenna 2' shown in Fig. 3.

' Referring nowto Figs. 8 and 9, there is shown means for arbitrarily setting a directed beam of improved sharpness, as attained by the previously describedpartition means, at a particular angle, or for scanning thedirected beam over a desired angle at'a chosen rate. A coaxial lead 3, an antenna '8'. and a wave guide portion i' are shown similar to their counterparts in Fig. 3. Partitions II, II, II, and i8 are now pivoted at their inner ends i8, 28', 2|, and 22', respectively. Likewise, tapered side walls 4' and 8' are broken at points 48 and 48 and are there positioned by t pivots. with pivots II, 2011!, 22', all of the six pivots being fixed .to tapered side walls 8', 1. The walls 4 and I and partitions i8, i8, i1, and i8 are now free toswing between the walls 6', I, which latter are made. wide enough at the mouth to correspond to the maximum angle through which centric line elements 88,

the moveable walls and partitions are to be swept.

The mouth ends of said walls and partitions are coupled'by meansof attached links to bars 50 and I] said bars-being substantially parallel and placed slightly above and below the area of the mouth of the horn. Bars 50 and 8| may be coupled to cranks Id and II by means of links I! and II, respectively. Cranks l4 and 88, mounted on a common drive shaft 58, may be rotated through gearing 81, 88 by a. motor 88. It is evident that linear, intermittent, or any desired motion may be applied to the bars 50, II by the substitution of proper devices in place of the rcciprocating device shown. It also seems obvious guide portion l' of the elec- Pivots l8 and 48 are in line Y that the walls and partitions may be set at any desired angle to the axis of symmetry of the radiator by adjusting the positions of bars 80, Ii manually, or by other means.

The character ofthe radiation from an electromagnetic horn such as the pyramidal radiator of Fig. 3 may be modified by introducing wave adjusting means into the inner mouths of the channels defined by the partitions l8, l8, l1, l8 and the sides of the horns. For. example, Fig. 18 shows a modified horn that is supplied with rotatable vanes 80, ll, 82, 83, and 84 to close and open alternately the aforementioned channels. Phase relations between said vanes may be made to have any desired character; 1. e., the vanes may be all simultaneously closed and then all opened, or the vanes may be closed and opened in such an order that the symmetry of the field pattern may be altered in any desired manner as a function of time.

In Fig. 1'7 gaseous discharge tubes 85, 68, 81, 88, and 89 fill the inner mouths of the channels bounded by members 4'-l5"-, |8'-i8', i8'-l'l', and i8--5', respectively. A modulated power supply 12 is connected by leads I0, H, and 13 to the gas tubes 65, 68, 81, 88, and 68. These connections may be made in such a manner that a modulating device 14 controlling the power supply 12 causes the tubes to discharge in any desired order and current intensity. It is well known to thoseskilled in the art, that the presence of ionized gas in the path of electromagnetic radiation severely modifies the radiant energy, undisturbed by non-ionized gas. Thus the wave energy traversing each channel may be altered according to any chosen function of time.

Fig. 18 shows a device similar to that of Fig. 1'7 in which gates 15, 18, I1, 18, 19 may be introduced into corresponding channels. Holes 88, 8|, 82, 83, 84 in gates 15, 16, l1, l8, and 19, respectively, may be made of any suitable area, and the gates may be made to occupy the channel mouths for any suitable time intervals'and in any desired order by obvious mechanical means such as a rotating crankshaft connected to these gates. It is to be understood that the devices shown in Figs. 8, 9, 16, 1'7, and 18 are equally useful in altering the response pattern of the horns when used for receiving purposes.

Further sharpening of the radiation patterns of electromagnetic horns may be provided by the devices shown in Figs. 11-15. Fig. 10 illustrates a radiation pattern plotted in polar coordinates for a horn whose undesirable secondary lobes are much exaggerated for clarity in drawing. The angle between the axisof symmetry and the first minimum on either side of the principal radiation lobe is defined as the angle oz.

Fig. 11 is a view' of an electromagnetic horn 88 positioned between two semi-cylindrical absorbing wall portions 88 and 88, and concentric reflecting wall portionsBI and 81 of somewhat greater diameter. Openings are leftin the walls 88, 88' and 81, 81' in front of the horn 85 that preferably subtend an angle 20:, equal to the spread of the principal radiation lobe. The edges 88, 88, 89, and 89' of the walls 88, 86' and 81, 81' are, therefore, placed in a region of minimum radiation. Little or no energy strikes the edges 88, 88', 89, and 89' of the walls to introduce new secondary lobes by diffraction or scattering, and the undesirable secondary lobes of the original radiation pattern are attenuated in the absorbing walls 88, 88', the energy passing initially through these walls being reflected by 7 the walls 81, 87' and substantially totally absorbed during the second passage through the walls 88, 88'. If it is necessary to remove the backwards directed radiation sides 89 and 81 may be continued around so as to connect with sides 88' and 81', thereby formin continuous walls.

Fig. 12 shows a horn array employing external radiation absorptive means similar to that of Fig. 11. Two sources 90 and 9|, connected by a wave guide 92, and excited by a common transmitter through a conductor 99, are separated a distance d1 of one or more wavelengths. The mouths of the horns 90 and 9| are parallel and the center of the array is a distance II: from the reflecting walls 81 and 91'. The absorbing walls 88 and 86 have a thickness d4 and are separated a distance ds from the exterior reflecting walls 81 and 81'. These walls may extend any desired degree around the arra always leaving an opening of a width d: for the radiation of the principal lobe of energy.

The theory of arrays such as that of Fig. 12 is disclosed in an article by W. L. Barrow and Carl Shulman, entitled "Multiunit electromagnetic horns, Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers, vol. 28, No. 3, March, 1940. Without absorptive means, these radiators, which may be partitioned electromagnetic horns, would produce a radiation pattern in the plane of the drawing characterized by a very sharp principal beam and a number of secondary lobes. As is well known from the theory of directive antenna systems, the resultant radiation pattern may be expressed by the relation:

where E is the resultant electric 'fleld intensity, F is the element function representing the radia tion pattern of each of the horns 90, 9|, and G is a group function which depends upon the spacing d1 of the horns. By adjusting d1, the group function'G, which expresses the result of constructive and destructive interference of the waves emanating from horns 90 and SI, may effect a sharpening of the principal beam, accompanied, however, by an increase in the number and magnitude of the secondary lobes.

In'the operation of the structures of Fig. 11 and 12, the absorption of the secondary lobes is due to the characteristics of the absorbing walls 86 and 96'. These walls, made of a poorly conducting material of conductivity permeability constant e, is placed, as previously mentioned, in front of the substantially perfect reflecting surface of walls 81, 81'. By adjusting the material constants c, v, and I of the walls 98, 88' and particularly their net conductivity as well as the distance d between walls 86, 86' and walls 81, 81, a substantially complete absorption of incident waves may be obtained. Certain critical relations between the wavelength, a, ds, and the wall thickness d4 may be found, either by theoretical calculations or by measurements, both procedures bethe art. In one example of such critical relations, ds is made zero, and d4 is made approximately equal to one quarter of the wavelength in the medium of the wall 88, 89.

Practical considerations may make it advisable to locate the walls 86, 86' and 81, 81' closer to the horns than would be required to keep them in the wave zone where the true radiation pattern exists. Under these conditions (is does not subtend an angle at the center of the array equal to 2a, the angle of the principal beam in respectively, were excited with 8.3 cm. electromagnetic waves. The optimum values of d1, I12, and d: were found to be 40.5 cm.. 58 cm., and 97 cm., respectively. A very sharp principal beam was produced substantially free of secondary lobes.

Removal of undesired radiation lobes from portions of the radiation pattern of a single or multiple horn radiator can also be accomplished by electromagnetic horn absorptive means such as shown in Fig. 13. Horns 94 and 95 are shown spaced to absorb secondary lobes emitted over a certain small angle adjacent to the primary lobe. Horns 94 and 95 may be-similar to that Of Fig. 1, or of any of the types disclosed in aforementioned Patent No. 2,255,042. Horns 88, 95 may have power absorbing devices, such as a relatively thin sheet of carbon, positioned at 88, 91, at an appropriate distance from their closed ends 98, 99, respectively. By proper design, horns 94, 95 may effect a substantially perfect or reflectionless match to outer space, so that energy entering these horns will be completely dissipated therein. If desired, a plurality of absorbing horns 94, 95 can be made to encircle radiators and iII except in the desired direction of emission.

Fig. 14 discloses an alternate form of the device of Fig. 13, wherein the absorbing horns 94, 98 are replaced by accordion type reflecting structures I00 and I 0|, such as copper, placed in corrugated, or successive V-conflguration surrounding the portions of the radiation field of horns 90, 9| from which secondary lobes are to be removed. Energy entering one of the V-shaped spaces between adjacent sheets. such as that defined by conducting sheets I02, I08, will be reflected back and forth between sheets. losing some energy on each reflection in heat. If the angle between the sides is small enough, substantially all of the wave energy will be converted to heat and but little will remain to be reflected out of the V. If desired, absorbing material such as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 may be included between the sheets I02 and I 03.

The device described in connection with Fig. 12 for the suppression of secondary lobes accomplishes this result chiefly in one plane. The method there described can also be applied, however, so that undesired lobes can entirely be removed from a radiation pattern, leaving a single lobed volume in space as the radiation or reception gain characteristic. Such a modification is illustrated in Fig. 15.

-In Fig. 15 is shown a plurality of radiators I04, I05, I06, I01, excited by a common source IIO of electromagnetic energy. Surrounding the radiation system is a, sphere I 09, which may be composed of any of the elements disclosed in Figs. 12, 13, or 14. The exact arrangement and shape of the absorber I09 may vary with the number and arrangement of radiation or receiving elements. An annular arrangement of the screen may be used, as may many other modifications which are in the scope of the present invention.

It appears obvious that the means herein described in connection with Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14,- and 15 for removing secondary lobes may also be used with single partitioned or non-partitioned electromagnetic horns or with a plurality of such horns, or with other radiative or energy receiving antenna means such as dipoles, parabolas, or any other well known'type of antenna or antenna array. It seems evident that the absorptive means may be adjusted to cut off a portion of the primary lobe in addition to the secondary lobes, or may allow certain secondaries to pass, as desired.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing irom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A directive electromagnetic antenna structure comprising an electromagnetic horn body, means within said horn body for radiating or receiving substantially linearly polarized electromagnetic energy, and partitioning mean forming passages within said horn body having a transverse dimension coextensive therewith, substantially perpendicular to the plane of said polarized energy, said passages having cross sectional areas progressively changing relative to the total cross sectional area oi said horn body along the length thereof, for modifying the directional pattern of said antenna structure.

2. A directive electromagnetic antenna structure comprising anelectromagnetic horn, means within said horn for radiating or receiving substantially linearly polarized electromagnetic energy, said horn including energy partitioning means having a, relative spacing in the plane or said polarization progressively altered along the length of said partitioning means for eiiecting a desired alteration of the normal electric field intensity across the mouth of the horn in the plane of said polarization.

3. Means for directionally radiating electromagnetic energy, comprising an electromagnetic horn, means for launchingsubstantially linearly polarized electromagnetic energy within said horn for passage therealong, and partitioning means within said horn for subdividing the interior thereof into channels extending generally along the principal axis of said horn, said channels having a, transverse dimension coextensive with said horn, said partitioning means having a relative spacing varied along the length of said horn for altering the normal electric intensity at the rtrliouth of said horn in the plane of said polariza- Means for directionally radiating electromagnetic energy, comprising an electromagnetic horn, means for launching substantially linearly polarized electromagnetic energy within said horn for passage therealong, said horn including energy-partitioning means disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane of said polarized energy, said partitioning means having a relative spacing in the plane of said polarization progressively altered along the length of said partitioning means for efiecting a desired alteration of the normal electric field intensity across the mouth of said horn.

5. Means for directionally radiating electromagnetic energy, comprising an electromagnetic horn, means for launching substantially linearly polarized electromagnetic energy within said horn for passage therealong, said horn including energy-partitioning means disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane of said polarized energy, said partitioning means having inner and outer ends placed adjacent the throat and mouth, respectively, of said horn, the relative transverse spacing of said inner ends being adjusted with respect to the relative transverse spacing of said outer ends for producing a substantially half sinusoidal intensity distribution across the mouth of said horn in the plane of said polarization.

6. A directive electromagnetic antenna structure comprising an electromagnetic horn, means within said horn for radiating or receiving ubstantially linearly polarized electromagnetic energy, said horn including septa disposed substantially perpendicularly to the plane of said polarized energy, said septa having inner and outer ends placed adjacent, the throat and mouth, respectively, of said horn, the relative transverse spacing of said inner ends being adjusted with respect to the relative transverse spacing of said outer ends for producing a desired redistribution of the electric field intensity across the mouth of said horn in the plane 'of said polarization.

WILMER L. BARROW. WILLIAM M. HALL.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,206,683 Wolff July 2, 1940 2,160,853 Gerhard et a1. June 6, 1939;

2,064,582 Wolff Dec. 15, 1936 2,283,935 King May 26, 1942 

